U.S. Marshals train at CAFB

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  United States Deputy Marshals visited Columbus Air Force Base July 19 to hone their tactical skills through training developed by the 14th Security Forces Squadron.

The Deputy Marshals participated in several training exercises including the Fire Arms Training Simulator (FATS), the Shoot Move Communicate course and a force on force exercise in the woods.

"We heard about the great training opportunities at Columbus Air Force Base so we wanted to come out and take advantage of them," said Christopher Felix, Supervisor of the Gulf Coast Regional Task Force, Northern District of Miss.

The Marshals are a part of the GCRTF and cover the Northern District of Mississippi, stationed out of Oxford, Miss.

The Marshals look for additional training once a month on top of their mandatory training. The resources and instructors at Columbus AFB provided the Marshals the opportunity to receive great training, said Felix.

"These guys know what they're doing. For us to get this level of training we would typically have to travel a long distance," said Jeff Harris, Deputy Marshal.

The Combat Arms Instructors that led the Marshals' exercises enjoy training people and felt that this visit was no exception.

"I wish we would have this type of training more often; we enjoy our interaction with the local law enforcement agencies," said Tech Sgt. Damon Salter, 14th SFS Combat Arms Instructor. "These training events help all of us to understand different agencies' terminology and improve our working relationships."

Staff Sgt. Charles May, 14th SFS Combat Arms Instructor spearheaded the planning and coordination of the event and helped organize the training exercises that were executed.

"Columbus AFB has just about every kind of terrain that the Marshal Service has to deal with," said May. "We also have trainers that spend a lot of time in the training areas we have here."

The Marshals appreciated the training environment on Columbus AFB and the quality of the instructors leading the exercises.

"I'd like to say thank you to the Air Force and Columbus AFB for allowing us to come out and train. Every opportunity we get to train, we try to take advantage of, and this is some of the best training we have had in a while," said Felix.